Donald Trump opens controversial golf course in Scotland

US businessman Donald Trump has officially opened his new golf course in
Scotland; the facility has been completed amid opposition from local
residents, environmentalists and wind farm manufacturers.

8:04AM BST 11 Jul 2012

Donald Trump cut a ribbon and struck the first ball on his new multi-million pound Scottish golf course, Trump International Golf Links, on Tuesday.

Almost seven years after purchasing the Aberdeenshire property, the businessman called Scotland the home of golf and said he hopes to have built "perhaps the greatest golf course in the world."

Mr Trump and his children teed off with former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie who said it was an honour to play the first round on the course.

"It makes me very proud to be a professional Scottish golfer today, to witness the opening of his fantastic course. On behalf of all the pros that are playing up in Inverness today, I can go back tomorrow to tell them how wonderful this site and this occasion is today," said Montgomerie.

The building of Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire has been controversial, with environmental campaigners opposing the construction of the course on protected sand dunes and Trump himself complaining about a potential offshore windfarm being built near the site.

The business tycoon's son, Donald Trump Junior, defended the golf course, saying: "We have been scrutinised by every group that there is out there. Every independent agency that's monitored us, that's been appointed to monitor us by the council, we have got all glowing reports."

He added: "Architect Martin Hawtree wrote the book on environmental golf development. He's our architect. He's been incredibly instrumental in everything we have done here."

The course will open to the public on Sunday July 15.

More than £100 million has been spent on the course and the clubhouse, but further plans for a hotel and homes in the area have been put on hold until a final decision is made on the offshore windfarm proposal.